Myth or Matter of Fact? If the traditional holiday meal didn’t feature turkey as the main star, you wouldn’t be so tired after eating. This is because the amino acid found in turkey, tryptophan, is what makes you feel so lethargic that all you can manage to do afterwards is hit the pillow for a nice, long nap…

MYTH! Well, really this is half myth, half fact. Tryptophan, the amino acid found in turkey, stimulates the body’s production of serotonin, which is a feel-good or "happy" hormone. A rise in serotonin levels calms the mind and triggers sleep. But, while the tryptophan found in turkey is known for being a natural sedative, you won’t likely get enough tryptophan from your turkey meal to induce sleep. Why not? Amino acids, the basic components of protein, compete with each other for absorption during digestion. The total amount of tryptophan found in turkey will most likely not be absorbed in full as it competes with other amino acids from the other foods you are eating. In fact, for turkey to actually make you tired, you’ll need to eat it on an empty stomach, not with a huge holiday spread.

Turkey Malarkey

So if it’s not the turkey that’s making you so tired, why do your eyelids start to droop after a big meal? Let’s just call it carb-overload. While the traditional Thanksgiving dinner does in fact feature turkey, it also features a buffet of other holiday treats: mashed potatoes, breaded stuffing, candied yams, green bean casserole, jiggly jell-o molds, cranberry sauce, homemade dinner rolls, apple pie, pumpkin pie, and much, much more. And let’s not forget the sleep-inducing effects of alcohol. Carbohydrates also trigger serotonin production in the brain, giving you that full-bellied, feel-good sensation.

While there’s nothing wrong with taking a nice big nap after a big meal, there are a few things you should keep in mind as you enjoy your holiday meal. The traditional holiday meal can add up to more than 3,000 calories! And that doesn’t even include anything you ate for breakfast, lunch or snacks that day, so you could easily be taking in more than 4,500 calories on the holidays, which is 2,500 calories more than normal. One pound is equal to 3,500 calories, and you know you’ll have turkey sandwiches and more leftovers the day after, adding on even more extra calories.

So is it any wonder that most of us gain at least a pound or two during the holidays? For some fantastic tricks on curbing your calorie intake on the holidays, read Avoiding Holiday Weight Gain and stay healthy through the holidays.

If you want to splurge and enjoy your holiday meal, go for it. Just make sure you’re prepared to undo some of the damage with exercise. Taking a long walk before your meal will help to burn off some calories before you even indulge, and after you wake up from your nap (because we know you just can’t resist it) take another walk. Get the whole family to join in on a holiday walk and make it a tradition to “earn” your Thanksgiving meal before you even lift your fork.

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